An epoch, or era, is a fixed point of time, commonly selected on account of some remarkable event by which it has been distinguished, and which is made the beginning or determining point of a particular year from which all other years, whether preceding or ensuing, are computed. In the Christian countries, the creation and the birth of Christ are the most important of the historical epochs. The creation has formed the foundation of various chronologies, the chief of which are: 1. The epoch adopted by Bossuet, Ussher, and other Catholic and Protestant divines, which places the creation in 4004 BC. 2. The Era of Constantinople (adopted by Russia), which places it in 5508 BC. 3. The Era of Antioch, used until 284 AD, placed the creation 5502 BC. 4. The Era of Aexandria, which made the creation 5492 BC. This is also the Abyssinian Era. 5. The Jewish Era, which places the creation in 3760 BC.
The Greeks computed their time by periods of four years, called Olympiads, from the occurrence every fourth year of the Olympic games. The first Olympiad, being the year in which Coroebus was victor in the Olympic games, was in the year 776 BC.
The Romans dated from the supposed era of the foundation of their city (Ab Urbe Condita, A.U.C.), the 21st of April, in the third year of the sixth Olympiad, or 753 BC (according to some authorities 752 BC).
The Christian Era, or mode of computing from the birth of Christ as a starting-point, was first introduced in the 6th century, and was generally adopted by the year 1000. This event is believed to have taken place earlier, perhaps by four years, than the received date.
The Julian epoch, based on the coincidence of the solar, lunar, and indictional periods, is fixed at 4713 BC, and is the only epoch established on an astronomical basis.
The Mohammedan Era, or Hejira, commences on the 16th of July, 622, and the years are computed by lunar months.
The Chinese traditionally reckoned their time by cycles of 60 years. Instead of numbering them as we do, they traditionally gave a different name to every year in the cycle. Research Epoch
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
General Information
Research Epoch
